How Many Job Vac

[CassandraMarie]

I’ve been tracking UK labour market data closely, and as of early 2026, the Office for National Statistics reports approximately 1.18 million job vacancies. That’s down from the post-pandemic peak of 1.3 million in 2022, but still well above the pre‑2020 average of around 800,000. The number tells me two things: demand for workers remains strong, but the mix has shifted.

Here’s a breakdown of vacancies by key sectors in Q1 2026:

Sector	Estimated Vacancies	Change vs. 2025
Health & Social Care	180,000	+5%
Hospitality & Tourism	150,000	-2%
Technology & IT	140,000	+8%
Construction & Trades	110,000	-1%
Retail & Wholesale	95,000	-3%
Education	85,000	+4%
Manufacturing	70,000	-2%

The healthcare sector continues to drive the highest absolute numbers, driven by an ageing population and NHS staffing gaps. Meanwhile, tech vacancies are growing faster than any other sector, especially in cybersecurity and AI roles. Regionally, London and the South East account for about 35% of all vacancies, but the North West and Scotland are seeing faster growth in logistics and green energy jobs.

A key insight: the ratio of vacancies to unemployed people is now 1.2 to 1 nationally, meaning there are more open roles than jobseekers. But that masks big differences—in skilled trades and nursing, it’s over 2:1, while in entry-level retail it’s closer to 0.8:1. So the headline number is promising, but the real story is about matching skills to opportunities.

[AlanaLee]

I’ve been applying for jobs in London for six months, and the sheer number of vacancies doesn’t match my experience. Every listing I click on seems to have 300+ applicants within a day. I saw a report that said there are only 0.5 vacancies per unemployed person in the capital for graduate roles. That feels right. I’ve had to send out 50 applications just to get one interview. So the “1.2 million” figure sounds great, but it’s not helping me.

[JonathanLee]

I run a small construction firm in Manchester, and we’ve had two bricklayer vacancies open for four months. The official number of vacancies in construction is around 110,000, but I can’t find anyone with the right experience. I’ve raised wages by 12% and added a sign‑on bonus, but skilled candidates are still hard to pin down. The vacancy count is high, but for me, it’s about quality, not quantity.

[McAdalynn]

When I moved to the UK from India last year, I looked up the vacancy numbers to decide where to focus. The 1.2 million figure gave me hope, but I quickly learned that sectors like IT and healthcare have plenty of openings, while others require UK‑specific certifications. I landed a software developer role in three months, but my friend in nursing had to pass an additional exam. So the raw count matters, but so do the barriers.

[OSamantha]

I’ve been helping people navigate the UK job market, and I always tell them the 1.18 million vacancies in 2026 is a good headline, but it’s not the full picture. The real opportunity lies in skills‑based hiring—employers are increasingly looking for specific competencies rather than just degrees. I’ve seen candidates with niche certifications in cybersecurity or green energy get offers fast. My advice: don’t just count vacancies, map them to your abilities.